What You Can and Can’t Eat When Start Diet Plan

Intermittent fasting is the voluntary abstention from any food or drink that contains calories. So during the 24 hours in which you’re fasting, you need to be mindful of what you consume and make sure that it doesn’t have any unnecessary calories. These sections clarify in plain English what you can and can’t eat when you’re on an intermittent fast.

Consuming noncaloric drinks

Although you don’t eat anything while fasting, make sure that you drink only noncaloric drinks during your intermittent fast, the most important being water. In fact, you should drink a minimum of eight glasses of water, which can help you feel fuller and can ensure you’re staying hydrated throughout the day.

Other noncaloric drinks you can consume during your intermittent fast include the following:

Black coffee

Black tea

Green tea

Herbal teas, such as peppermint, chamomile, or rooibos

Sparkling water

Keep caffeine to a minimum, if you can because too much isn’t good for you or your fast. Our recommendation is not to exceed two cups of coffee in one day (or approximately 200 milligrams of caffeine).

You can easily sneak calories into beverages with milk or sugar, so be careful. Drinking unsweetened tea or not adding half-and-half to your morning cup of coffee can seem difficult at first, but the benefits of intermittent fasting far out weigh the initial discomfort of giving up your routine. If you start to add a dash of cream here or a packet of sugar there, you may soon find that you aren’t fasting at all but instead spiking insulin levels and not allowing your body to reap the full benefits of the fasting period. Remember, you’re only taking a break from eating once or twice a week so be strong. You can do it.

When first trying out intermittent fasting, some people experience headaches. If you experience headaches, you aren’t dehydrated, but rather you’re experiencing a common withdrawal symptom. Be mindful of the amount of caffeine you consume during your fast, because caffeine acts as a diuretic. If you consume too many caffeinated beverages while fasting, without drinking enough water or herbal tea as well, you may get a caffeine headache or become dehydrated.

Including supplements

You may also take vitamins or other supplements while fasting. They can include fish oil, a multivitamin, or any other supplement that you normally take on non fast days.

Some people find that taking supplements, such as a multivitamin, on an empty stomach can make them feel nauseated. If it happens to you, consider only taking vitamins on non fasting days.

Speak with your physician before taking any supplements or starting any dietary regimen, including intermittent fasting, and be sure to discuss how intermittent fasting may affect any physician-prescribed medications or supplements.